Interactions and evolutionary relationships among bacterial mobile genetic elements.

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) have profound influence on the ecology and evolution of organisms, including bacteria. During the past two decades, a great number of new types of MGEs have been discovered that now seem to be prevalent in diverse bacterial lineages. With the rapid discovery of new categories of MGEs comes an array of new acronyms that present a challenge to grasp.

Association of Plasma Biomarkers With Longitudinal Atrophy and Microvascular Burden on MRI Across Neurodegenerative and Cerebrovascular Diseases.

Background And Objectives: Plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer disease (AD), neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration are increasingly being used in clinical trials for diagnosis and monitoring of dementia. However, their association with longitudinal structural brain MRI changes, an important outcome measure across neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases, is less known. We investigated how baseline plasma biomarkers reflect MRI markers of progression over time in patients with neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases.

Quantifying the trunk and humeral postural demands of uranium mine site workers using wearable sensors.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to quantify and describe humeral and trunk ergonomic exposures across various occupations on a mine site.

Methods: Thirteen mine site workers from 11 different occupations were outfitted with wearable sensors to measure trunk and humeral kinematics during 1-4 natural on-site work tasks. Trunk flexion/extension and humeral elevation 10th, 50th, 90th and 99th percentiles, range, percent time in neutral and extreme posture, rate of movement repetition, mean angular velocity, and percent time working at slow and fast speed were calculated for each work task.

Larval consumption of Cry1F maize pollen causes adverse effects in four non-target Lepidoptera species.

The cultivation of genetically modified maize expressing Bt proteins against Lepidopteran pests poses a risk for non-target (NT) Lepidoptera, particularly for species inhabiting agroecosystems and whose larvae are susceptible to Bt toxins expressed in maize pollen. Here, laboratory studies were conducted to determine the adverse effects of larval exposure to Cry1F pollen (event TC1507) on host plants on two butterfly (Pieris napi, Aglais io) and two moth species (Plutella xylostella, Ematurga atomaria). All NT Lepidoptera tested were affected by the Cry1F toxin in the pollen, albeit in different degrees depending on the species and the recorded parameter.

Standardizing the large-volume "tap test" for evaluating idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: a systematic review.

Introduction: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is characterized by the clinical triad of gait, cognitive, and urinary dysfunction associated with ventriculomegaly on neuroimaging. Clinical evaluation before and after CSF removal via large volume lumbar puncture (the "tap test") is used to determine a patient's potential to benefit from shunt placement. Although clinical guidelines for iNPH exist, a standardized protocol detailing the procedural methodology of the tap test is lacking.

Motor Neuron Involvement in Two ATP13A2-Related Families: ALS And HSP-Like Phenotypes.

Background: Mutations in the ATP13A2 gene have been implicated in various neurodegenerative disorders, including Kufor-Rakeb syndrome (KRS), neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This report presents two Iranian families with ATP13A2 variants exhibiting atypical features of KRS.

Cases: We highlight four patients from two consanguineous Iranian families with mutations in the ATP13A2 gene presenting with variable features of motor neuron disease as well as juvenile-onset parkinsonism, and cognitive decline.

Admission temperature in very preterm infants 2012-2021: a Nationwide Quality Registry Study, Norway.

Objective: To examine the distribution and time trends of admission temperature in very preterm infants, effects of temperature-preserving interventions and associations between hypothermia and outcomes.

Methods: Population-based cohort study of infants <32 gestational weeks without lethal malformations admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit within 2 hours of birth between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2021. Hypothermia was defined as mild (36.

Examining avian influenza virus exposure in seabirds of the northwest Atlantic in 2022 and 2023 via antibodies in eggs.

Seabirds are frequently infected by avian influenza virus (AIV), which prior to 2021 primarily consisted of low-pathogenic AIV with limited reports of disease during infection. However, since highly pathogenic AIV (HPAIV) H5N1 clade 2.3.

Clinical effectiveness of dupilumab in CRSwNP: unaffected by baseline nasal polyp size in real-world settings.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of baseline nasal polyp score (NPS) on the effectiveness of dupilumab treatment in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 80 CRSwNP patients treated with dupilumab 300 mg biweekly at a tertiary referral center were stratified according to the baseline NPS into two groups: low-NPS (< 5) and high-NPS (≥ 5). Treatment outcomes were evaluated at the 6-month follow-up visit and compared.

SynNeurGe: The road ahead for a biological definition of Parkinson's disease.

While significant progress has been made in treating Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms, disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have consistently failed. To address the underlying molecular mechanisms of PD, two biology-based criteria have been proposed: the "Synucleinopathy-Neurodegeneration-Genetics" (SynNeurGe) and "neuronal α-synuclein disease" (NSD) frameworks. Both frameworks emphasize the importance of biological markers over clinical symptoms.

Heartbeat signature for predicting motor and non-motor involvement among nonparkinsonian LRRK2 G2019S mutation carriers.

Purpose: Increased beat-to-beat heart rate variability (HRV) is a feature of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who carry the G2019S mutation in the LRRK2 gene (LRRK2-PD). Since LRRK2 mutations have incomplete penetrance, HRV changes preceding PD conversion would likely be observed only in a subset of LRRK2 non-manifesting carriers (NMC). We aimed to assess HRV in a subgroup of NMC with distinctive characteristics of LRRK2-PD, identified through clustering analysis.

Protein misfolding: understanding biology to classify and treat synucleinopathies.

Protein misfolding and aggregation is a major pathological hallmark in a variety of human conditions, including cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration. However, we still do not fully understand the role of protein accumulation in disease. Interestingly, recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) are having a tremendous impact on our ability to predict three-dimensional protein structures and understand the molecular rules governing protein folding/misfolding.

Dose Build-up of High-energy 1H and 4He Ions in Standard, Innovative and In Situ Shielding Materials for Space Radiation: Measurements and Simulations.

Galactic cosmic rays (GCR) are among the biggest hindrances to crewed space exploration. The ions contributing the most to fluence and absorbed dose in free space are 1H and 4He. In addition, their contribution to dose equivalent increases behind thick shields.

Prevalence of Parkinson's Disease in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: A Multicenter Study.

Background: 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) has been associated with increased risk of early-onset Parkinson's disease (PD).

Implementation of prehospital point-of-care ultrasound using a novel continuous feedback approach in a UK helicopter emergency medical service.

Background: There has been increased use of prehospital point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) by helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) in recent years. Lack of governance structure and evidence of benefit have been described as major barriers to its implementation. This paper describes a novel approach to implementation of prehospital PoCUS and clinical governance framework in a UK HEMS.

Uncovering the hidden RNA virus diversity in Lake Nam Co: Evolutionary insights from an extreme high-altitude environment.

Alpine lakes, characterized by isolation, low temperatures, oligotrophic conditions, and intense ultraviolet radiation, remain a poorly explored ecosystem for RNA viruses. Here, we present the first comprehensive metatranscriptomic study of RNA viruses in Lake Nam Co, a high-altitude alkaline saline lake on the Tibetan Plateau. Using a combination of sequence- and structure-based homology searches, we identified 742 RNA virus species, including 383 novel genus-level groups and 84 novel family-level groups exclusively found in Lake Nam Co.

Exploring Lysine Incorporation as a Strategy to Mitigate Postsynthetic Halide Exchange in Lead-Halide Hybrid Perovskites.

Lead-halide hybrid perovskites (RNHPbX, X = halide, e.g., Cl, Br, I; R = organic moiety) show promise for next-generation optoelectronic devices due to their simple synthesis routes, strong light absorption, and high photoluminescence quantum yield.

Local erythropoiesis directs oxygen availability in bone fracture repair.

Bone fracture ruptures blood vessels and disrupts the bone marrow, the site of new red blood cell production (erythropoiesis). Current dogma holds that bone fracture causes severe hypoxia at the fracture site, due to vascular rupture, and that this hypoxia must be overcome for regeneration. Here, we show that the early fracture site is not hypoxic, but instead exhibits high oxygen tension (> 55 mmHg, or 8%), similar to the red blood cell reservoir, the spleen.

Maternal characteristics and their relation to early mother-child interaction and cognitive development in toddlers.

Early mother-infant interaction is believed to have a significant impact on the social, cognitive, and emotional development of children. These interactions are not only influenced by child and contextual factors but also by the mother's personality traits and strain. In this study, we investigated the relation between maternal factors such as personality, depressive symptoms, or experiencing of emotions, and (i) children's early cognitive development and (ii) interaction patterns in a sample of 116 mother-child dyads (mean child age = 18.

Montreal cognitive assessment as a cognitive outcome measure in progressive supranuclear palsy.

Background: The Montreal Cognitive assessment (MoCA) is a well-validated global cognitive screening instrument. Its validity in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) has not been assessed.

Objectives: To evaluate the MoCA as an outcome measure in PSP clinical trials.

The clinical and cost effectiveness of a STAndardised DIagnostic Assessment for children and adolescents with emotional difficulties: the STADIA multi-centre randomised controlled trial.

Background: Standardised Diagnostic Assessment tools, such as the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA), may aid detection and diagnosis of emotional disorders but there is limited real-world evidence of their clinical or cost effectiveness.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre, two-arm parallel group randomised controlled trial in eight large National Health Service Trusts in England providing multidisciplinary specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Participants (5-17 year-olds with emotional difficulties referred to CAMHS) were randomly assigned (1:1), following referral receipt, to either receive the DAWBA and assessment-as-usual (intervention group) or assessment-as-usual (control group).

YAP regulates periosteal expansion in fracture repair.

Bone fracture repair initiates by periosteal expansion. The periosteum is typically quiescent, but upon fracture, periosteal cells proliferate and contribute to bone fracture repair. The expansion of the periosteum is regulated by gene transcription; however, the molecular mechanisms behind periosteal expansion are unclear.

Intramolecular Inhibition by Imidazole in Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Protected Carbohydrates.

The present study reveals an unexpected anomaly observed in the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the 5,6-O-isopropylidene group in 3-O-protected D-gluco- and D-allofuranose derivatives. Although the removal of the 5,6-O-isopropylidene protecting group is typically rapid and quantitative under acidic conditions, an unexpected inhibition of this reaction is observed for the two C3-epimers, 3-O-imidazole sulfonyl moiety. X-ray data show a two-faced imidazole ring orientation in the crystal, while solution state NOE data reveal a critical interaction type between the isopropylidene and the imidazole rings.